Daytona Beach's Vince Carter started at shooting guard for the Dallas Mavericks at home before a raucous Christmas crowd, scoring 5 points on the losing end as the Miami Heat gave a little payback to the defending NBA champs.
Lebron James scored 37 points for the Heat in the 105-94 win in a game that was lopsided in Miami's favor despite the final score.
Jason Terry led Dallas with 23 points, but the absence of center Tyson Chandler, signed as a free agent with the New York Knicks who beat the Boston Celtics earlier in the day, was a major factor. Lamar Odom, traded from the Los Angeles Lakers, scored only 5 and got tossed from the game. Despite tendinitis in his knees, Carter started the game with his former New Jersey Nets back-court mate Jason Kidd, and played 20.41 minutes.
